Method and system for prioritizing and scheduling services in an ip multimedia network

ABSTRACT

An IP multimedia gateway (IMG) determines device capabilities and proposed service priority profiles of communicatively coupled client devices. The determined device capabilities and proposed service priority profiles are transmitted to service managers for service scheduling. Device capabilities of the communicatively coupled client devices are configured or prioritized based on available actual service priority profiles from the service managers. The configured device capabilities are transmitted to the service managers for subsequent service scheduling. Services provided by the service managers are announced based on the available actual service priority profiles. The IMG communicates content for the announced services between the communicatively coupled client devices and the service managers. The IMG may allow the user of a client device to access desired content via other client devices. Content and/or downloaded content for carrier grade services are provided to one or more non-carrier grade client devices when needed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS/INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

This application makes reference to:

U.S. application Ser. No. 12/829,145 filed on Jul. 1, 2010,

U.S. application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney Docket No. 23034US01) filedon even date herewith,

U.S. application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney Docket No. 23035US01) filedon even date herewith,

U.S. application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney Docket No. 23036US01) filedon even date herewith,

U.S. application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney Docket No. 23037US01) filedon even date herewith,

U.S. application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney Docket No. 23038US01) filedon even date herewith, and

U.S. application Ser. No. _______ (Attorney Docket No. 23039US01) filedon even date herewith.

Each of the above stated applications is hereby incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Certain embodiments of the invention relate to communication systems.More specifically, certain embodiments of the invention relate to amethod and system for prioritizing and scheduling services in an IPmultimedia network.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Telecommunication technologies have evolved from analog to digitaltechnologies, and continues to evolve from circuit switched to packetswitched, from connection oriented packet switching to connectionlesspacket switching, and from narrow band application to broadbandapplications. The accompanied evolution in telecommunicationtechnologies has significantly advanced operators' capability to offerbroadband, IP-based multimedia services (IMS) ranging from entertainmentand lifestyle applications such as mobile TV and mobile payment toprofessional services such as video conferencing and real-time dataexchange.

IMS defines a standard framework for the deployment of next generationWeb-based application services. IMS defines how these services connectand communicate with the underlying telecommunications network(s) andhow they integrate with the network provider's back-end systems. IMScombines voice and data in one packet switched network such as, forexample, the GPRS core network and the LTE core network, to offernetwork controlled multimedia services. Various Internet Protocols (IPs)such as the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), the User DatagramProtocol (UDP), the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and Real-TimeTransport Protocol (RTP) are widely utilized for delivery of variousforms of multimedia applications over IP networks. SIP is an end-to-endapplication layer signaling protocol that is utilized to setup, modify,and teardown multimedia sessions such as audio/videoconferencing,interactive gaming, virtual reality, and call forwarding over IPnetworks. UDP and TCP are transport layer protocols that are used fordata delivery over IP networks. TCP guarantees data delivery andintegrity, however, UDP does not exclusively guarantee delivery of data.RTP is the Internet protocol which transports real-time data such asaudio and video data. RTP does not exclusively guarantee real-timedelivery of data, but it does provide mechanisms for the sending andreceiving applications to support streaming and/or conversational data.

Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditionalapproaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, throughcomparison of such systems with some aspects of the present invention asset forth in the remainder of the present application with reference tothe drawings.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A method and/or system for prioritizing and scheduling services in an IPmultimedia network, substantially as shown in and/or described inconnection with at least one of the figures, as set forth morecompletely in the claims.

These and other advantages, aspects and novel features of the presentinvention, as well as details of an illustrated embodiment thereof, willbe more fully understood from the following description and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary communication system thatis operable to utilize a generic IP multimedia residential gateway(IMRG) to support service prioritization and scheduling in an IPmultimedia network, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary generic IP multimediaresidential gateway (IMRG) that is operable to support serviceprioritization and scheduling in an IP multimedia network, in accordancewith an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating exemplary steps that may beperformed to negotiate available actual service priority profilesbetween a generic IP multimedia residential gateway (IMRG) and servicemanagers based on client device capabilities and proposed servicepriorities, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating exemplary steps that may beperformed by a generic IP multimedia residential gateway (IMRG) todynamically configure device capabilities of communicatively coupledclient devices based on available actual service priority profilesprovided by service managers, in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating exemplary steps that may beperformed by a generic IP multimedia residential gateway (IMRG) tonotify services available to communicatively coupled client devicesbased on available actual service priority profiles provided by servicemanagers, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating exemplary steps that may beperformed by a generic IP multimedia residential gateway (IMRG) to allowthe user of a client device to receive desired services via other clientdevices, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating exemplary steps that may beperformed by a generic IP multimedia residential gateway (IMRG) toschedule and deliver carrier grade services to non-carrier grade clientdevices, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating exemplary steps that may beperformed by a generic IP multimedia residential gateway (IMRG) to pushstored content for carrier grade services to non-carrier grade clientdevices, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Certain embodiments of the invention may be found in a method and systemfor prioritizing and scheduling services in an IP multimedia network. Invarious embodiments of the invention, an IP multimedia gateway (IMG) maybe operable to determine device capabilities and proposed servicepriority profiles of one or more of a plurality of client devicescommunicatively coupled to the IMG. The determined device capabilitiesand proposed service priority profiles may be transmitted orcommunicated to one or more service managers for real-time servicescheduling. The transmitted device capabilities and service priorityprofiles may be utilized by the service managers to generate or provideavailable actual service priority profiles for the communicativelycoupled client devices. The IMG may communicate content for servicesbetween one or more of the communicatively coupled client devices andthe service managers based on the available actual service priorityprofiles provided by the service managers. The IMG may dynamicallyconfigure device capabilities of the one or more of the communicativelycoupled client devices based on the available actual service priorityprofiles. The configured device capabilities may be transmitted back tothe service managers for subsequent service provisioning and/orscheduling. Services provided by the service managers may be announcedby the IMG based on the available actual service priority profiles tonotify the communicatively coupled client devices. Content for theannounced services may be communicated between one or more of thecommunicatively coupled client devices and the service managers. In thisregard, the IMG may be operable to allow the user of a client device toaccess desired content via other client devices. Content and/ordownloaded content for carrier-grade services may be shared or providedto one or more non-carrier grade client devices when needed.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary communication system thatis operable to utilize a generic IP multimedia residential gateway tosupport service prioritization and scheduling in an IP multimedianetwork, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Referring toFIG. 1, there is shown a communication system 100 comprising a pluralityof IP multimedia residential gateways (IMRGs), of which IMRGs 112-114are illustrated, broadband IP networks 120, a plurality of clientdevices 132 a˜132 e, 134 a˜134 c, 136 a˜136 e, and 138 a˜138 c, whichare collectively referred to herein as client devices 132, 134, 136 and138, respectively, a plurality of access networks 142-146, and IP-basedapplication servers 150, of which service servers 150 a˜150 c aredisplayed.

An IMRG such as the IMRG 112 may comprise suitable logic, circuitry,interfaces and/or code that are operable to connect the client devices132 a-132 e to the broadband IP networks 120 for services of interest. Aservice may be described or represented by the service type and theservice class. The type of a service refers to as the type ofinformation to be transferred such as data, voice, text or video for theservice. A service with a given service type may be classified into aplurality of exemplary scheduling service classes, namely, data servicesfor Internet access and messaging, conversational services for carriergrade voice and/or video calls and conferences, video services for TV,video and music streaming, gaming services for users to interact withone another via a central server, and corporate VPN services for accessto enterprise intranet/email.

Depending on service level agreements between subscribers and servicemanagers such as the IP-based application server 150 a, services may beprovided by the service managers to the subscribers with differentservice performance or quality levels such as a carrier grade or anon-carrier grade. A carrier grade, also called a carrier class, refersto a system, hardware and/or component or function that is extremelyreliable, and proven in its capabilities to ensure service integrity andservice performance or quality levels. A carrier grade may indicate astrong authentication control which may yield high quality and security.A non-carrier grade, also called an enterprise grade, refers to asystem, a hardware and/or component or function that is not reliable andsecure enough to ensure service integrity. Services that are provided bythe service managers such as the IP-based application server 150 a witha carrier grade are referred to as carrier grade services. Carrier gradeservices may comprise VoIP services, IPTV services, music and radiostreaming services, Internet services and/or push-to-talk services.Services that are provided by the service managers such as the IP-basedapplication server 150 a with a non-carrier grade, that is, with a lessauthentication control, are referred to as non-carrier grade services.In this regard, carrier grade services may be scheduled by the servicemanagers for delivery with guaranteed service integrity to thesubscribers. Non-carrier grade services may be delivered when neededwithout guaranteed reliability and stability. A client device thatreceives a carrier grade service from the service managers is referredto as a carrier grade client device. A client device that receives anon-carrier grade service from the service managers is referred to as anon-carrier grade client device.

Specific requirements may be placed on access networks and core networksfor each service type and/or class to ensure desired end-to-end QoS. Theservice requirements on access networks and core networks may comprise,for example, system timing, CODEC, transmission rates, power-savingmechanisms, security profiles and content types. The system timing maybe utilized to synchronize communications for delivery of service. TheCODEC may comprise G.711, G.729, G.723, MPEG-4, VC-1, and VP6, forexample. The power-saving mechanisms may comprise various power levels,which may be utilized within certain time intervals, for servicetransmissions. The security profiles may comprise service securitydescriptions such as, for example, security configurations and policies.The security configuration of a service may comprise protocols,credentials, and actions such as authentication actions. The contenttype of a service may specify what type of content that the service maycomprise. The content type for a service may comprise, for example,Multipart Internet Mail Extensions (MIME) files, HTML pages, H.262,H.263, H.264/AVC video, G.711, BV16 and/or BV32 voice, and DOCSISSet-top Gateway (DSG) multimedia.

U.S. application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney Docket No. 23032US01), whichis filed on even date herewith provides detailed descriptions of an IPmultimedia residential gateway (IMRG) that may be operable to couple aplurality of communication devices to a plurality of broadband IPnetworks utilizing device-dependent interfaces for device access andtechnology-dependent broadband connections for network access, and ishereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

The IMRG 112 may be operable to integrate local client devices as wellas remote client devices to the broadband IP networks 120. Clientdevices such as the client devices 132 a-132 e that may access the IMRG112 via device-dependent interfaces are referred to as local clientdevices for the IMRG 112. A device-dependent interface may generallyrepresent the PHY and MAC functionality of a particular accesstechnology such as, for example, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, cordless,and/or Femtocell. Client devices such as the client devices 134 a-134 cthat may access the IMRG 112 via device-independent interfaces such asthe broadband IP networks 120 are referred to as remote client devicesfor the IMRG 112. Client devices such as the client devices 136 a-136 ethat may remotely access the IMRG 112 via other IMRGs such as the IMRG114 are also referred to as remote client devices for the IMRG 112.

The IMRG 112 may be operable to perform automatic device and networkdiscovery by utilizing proprietary methods and/or well-known networkingprotocols such as UPnP and DHCP, or a combination of both. For example,the IMRG 112 may be operable to multicast a discovery message. The IMRG112 may discover or identify communicatively coupled devices and/ornetworks from responses received to the discovery message. In thisregard, the IMRG 112 may be operable to retrieve or determine, from thereceived responses, client device capabilities for the discovereddevices, and/or network capabilities for the discovered networks.

The network capabilities may comprise interface types, processingprotocols, service types, service classes and service requirements onnetwork side. The interface types for the identified networks maycomprise technology specific broadband IP connections such as DSL,Cable, FTTx, PLC and WiMAX. The protocols may comprise service layerprotocols such as SSL and STP, technology-independent IP layer protocolssuch as SIP, TCP, and technology-dependent IP layer protocols such asBase Station System GPRS Protocol (BSSGP).

The client device capabilities may comprise interface types, processingprotocols, service types, service classes, and/or service requirements.The interface types for the identified device may comprise accessinterface types such as Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCa), WiFi,Ethernet, Femtocell, and/or cordless. The processing protocols maycomprise service layer protocols, IP layer protocols and link layerprotocols, as specified, for example, in the Open Systems Interconnect(OSI) model. The service layer protocols may comprise secure protocolssuch as Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and control protocols such asSpanning Tree Protocol (STP). The IP layer protocols may comprise IPsignaling protocols such as SIP and H.323 and IP media transportprotocols such as TCP, UDP, RTP, RTC and RTCP. The link layer protocolsmay comprise technology-specific PHY and MAC layer protocols such as,for example, MoCa, WiFi, Ethernet, Femtocell, and/or cordless.

In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the IMRG 112 may beoperable to communicate with service managers to enable provisioningand/or real-time scheduling of services. The IMRG 112 may be operable tonegotiate with the service managers for a priority profile available foreach of communicatively coupled client devices. A service priorityprofile may comprise information such as, for example, QoS levels andservice priorities that the user is entitled or allowed to request andreceive. Service priorities are referred to as service class prioritiesthat client devices may establish or may be subscribed to. Depending onservice agreement between the client devices and one or more servicemanagers, different service classes may be subscribed or establishedwith different service priorities. For example, a client device such asthe client device 132 a may subscribe to a service class such as videoand music streaming with higher service priorities, and other serviceclasses such as best-effort Internet access with lower servicepriorities.

Different service priority profiles may be set or proposed by differentclient devices based on device capabilities and/or user preferences. Inthis regard, the IMRG 112 may be operable to communicate devicecapabilities and proposed service priority profiles of communicativelycoupled client devices to the service managers. The IMRG 112 may beoperable to receive available actual service priority profiles from theservice managers. The received available actual service profiles may begenerated by the service managers for the communicatively coupled clientdevices based on corresponding device capabilities and proposed servicepriority profiles. The IMRG 112 may determine whether to accept theavailable actual service priority profiles provided by the servicemanagers. In instances where the IMRG 112 decides to accept theavailable actual service priority profiles received from the servicemanagers, the IMRG 112 may acknowledge the service managers for theacceptance of the available actual service priority profiles. Ininstances where the IMRG 112 decides not to accept the available actualservice priority profiles, the IMRG 112 may communicate with thecommunicatively coupled client devices to update the proposed servicepriority profiles. The IMRG 112 may communicate the updated servicepriority profiles to the service managers for further consideration.

In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the IMRG 112 may beoperable to dynamically configure or prioritize device capabilities forthe communicatively coupled client devices based on available actualservice priority profiles provided by the service managers. The IMRG 112may be operable to prioritize the usage of device capabilities such asan audio decoder and a video decoder based on the available actualservice priority profiles in order to ensure availability of specificdevice capabilities when they are needed. For example, in instanceswhere a video streaming service is provided or scheduled to a clientdevice such as the client device 132 d, the IMRG 112 may configure theclient device 132 d to assign higher priorities to video serviceprocessing capabilities such as a video post processing unit that may beutilized for deinterlisting and deblocking operation, and assign lowerpriorities to graphics and other device capabilities such as audioprocessor. In instances where a 3D video service is provided orscheduled to the client device 132 d, the IMRG 112 may configure theclient device 132 d to assign service processing capabilities such as 2Dgraphics with higher priorities, and a video decoder, an audio processorand memory, for example, with lower priorities. The IMRG 112 may beoperable to allocate resources to support corresponding devicecapabilities such as video processing, audio processing andfunctionalities based on the available actual service priority profilesprovided by the service managers.

In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the IMRG 112 may beoperable to announce services provided by the service managers based onthe available actual service provider profiles to notify thecommunicatively coupled client devices what the services are scheduledby the service managers. The IMRG 112 may be operable to communicatecontent for services between the communicatively coupled client devicesand the service managers based on corresponding device capabilities andavailable actual service priority profiles.

In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the IMRG 112 may beoperable to allow the user of a client device to receive services viaother client devices. For example, in instances where a WiFi enablediPad device such as the client device 132 d has limited devicecapabilities such as access capability for services such as highdefinition (HD) services, the IMRG 112 may be operable to select one ormore of the communicatively coupled client devices, for example, aset-top box (STB), that may comprise device capabilities required forthe HD services. In this regard, the IMRG 112 may be operable to notifythe user of the client device 132 d of the receipt of the HD servicesvia the selected one or more other client devices such as the clientdevice 132 c.

In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the IMRG 112 may beoperable to push or deliver carrier grade services to non-carrier gradeclient devices when possible. For example, the IMRG 112 may be operableto monitor activities of communicatively coupled client devices. Ininstances where a carrier grade client device such as the client device132 e stops receiving subscribed carrier grade services, the IMRG 112may stop or suspend delivery of the carrier grade services to the clientdevice 132 e. The IMRG 112 may announce that the carrier grade servicessubscribed by the client device 132 e are available to other clientdevices such as the client device 132 c. In instances where a servicerequest is received from a non-carrier grade client device such as theclient device 132 c for the announced carrier grade services, the IMRG112 may proceed with communicating content for the carrier gradeservices between the client device 132 c and the service managers.

In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the IMRG 112 may beoperable to store or download content for carrier grade servicessubscribed by a carrier grade client device such as the client device132 c. The IMRG 112 may provide the stored content for the carrier gradeservices to one or more non-carrier grade client devices such as theclient devices 132 d˜132 e.

A client device such as the client device 132 a may comprise suitablelogic, circuitry, interfaces and/or code that are operable to receiveservices from different broadband IP networks through the IMRG 112. Invarious exemplary embodiments of the invention, the client device 132 amay subscribe to or establish different service classes with differentservice priorities for service reception based on device capabilitiesand/or user's preferences. For example, the client device 132 a may beconfigured to subscribe to or establish a service class such as videoand music streaming with higher service priorities, and other serviceclasses such as best-effort Internet access with lower servicepriorities. In various exemplary embodiments of the invention, theclient device 132 a may be operable to utilize an access technologyspecific interface such as Bluetooth, LTE, WiFi and/or Ethernet tocommunicate with the IMRG 112 for services offered by differentbroadband IP networks or the service manager. The client device 132 amay also be operable to communicate or exchange information with otherclient devices registered to the IMRG 112. In this regard, the clientdevice 132 a may share information such as available actual servicepriority profiles with local client devices such as client devices 132b-132 e as well as remote client devices such as the client devices 134a-134 c. The client device 132 a may be dynamically configured toreceive services from the broadband IP networks 120 as well as networkedclient devices such as the client device 132 e.

An access network such as the access network 142 may comprise suitablelogic, circuitry, communication devices, interfaces and/or code that areoperable to communicate services by utilizing various accesstechnologies such as, for example, IP LAN, Bluetooth, WiFi, Femtocell,LTE and WiMAX.

An IP-based application server such as the IP-based application server150 a may comprise suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces and/or codethat are operable to provide IP-based services to various broadband IPnetworks 120. In this regard, the IP-based application server 150 a maybe configured to deliver carrier grade as well as non-carrier gradebroadband access services to users through the broadband IP networks120.

In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the IP-based applicationserver 150 a may be operable to perform real-time service scheduling forclient devices communicatively coupled to the IMRG 112, for example. Inthis regard, the IP-based application server 150 a may receiveinformation such as device capabilities and proposed service priorityprofiles from the IMRG 112 to facilitate real-time service schedulingfor each of client devices such as the client devices 132 a-132 ecommunicatively coupled to the IMRG 112. In this regard, the IP-basedapplication server 150 a may be operable to generate available actualservice priority profiles for the client devices 132 a-132 e based oncorresponding device capabilities and proposed service priorityprofiles. The generated available actual service priority profiles maybe updated in real time or may be delayed. The IP-based applicationserver 150 a may schedule or provide services to the client devices 132a-132 e based on the generated available actual service priorityprofiles.

Although IP multimedia residential gateways (IMRGs) are illustrated inFIG. 1 for prioritizing and scheduling services in an IP multimedianetwork, the invention may not be so limited. Accordingly, other IPmultimedia gateways for prioritizing and scheduling services in an IPmultimedia network may be supported without departing from the spiritand scope of various embodiments of the invention. The IP multimediagateways may be, for example, IP multimedia residential gateway (IMRGs)which may be located at a residential location. The IP multimediagateways may be located in non-residential locations comprising, forexample, a commercial building, an office, an office complex, anapartment building and/or a factory.

In an exemplary operation, an IMRG such as the IMRG 112 may be operableto communicatively couple or connect a plurality of communicativelycoupled client devices to the broadband IP networks 120. The IMRG 112may be operable to track or monitor activities of the communicativelycoupled client devices such as the client devices 132 a-132 e. The IMRG112 may be operable to support real-time service scheduling bycommunicating with the service managers. In this regard, the IMRG 112may provide device capabilities and service priority profiles proposedby the client devices 132 a-132 e to the service managers. The IMRG 112may receive available actual service priority profiles that aregenerated by the service managers for the client devices 132 a-132 ebased on corresponding device capabilities and proposed service priorityprofiles. The IMRG 112 may be operable to dynamically configure orprioritize device capabilities of the client devices 132 a-132 e basedon the received available actual service priority profiles. Servicesprovided by the service managers may be announced by the IMRG 112 tonotify the communicatively coupled client devices based on the receivedavailable actual service priority profiles.

The IMRG 112 may be operable to communicate content for the announcedservices between the communicatively coupled client devices and theservice managers based on corresponding device capabilities andavailable actual service priority profiles. In instances where a clientdevice such as a WiFi enabled iPad device 132 d has no sufficient devicecapabilities such as access capability to support a desired service suchas a HD service, the IMRG 112 may signal or instruct the user of theclient device 132 d to receive the HD service via one or more otherclient devices such as the client devices 132 c that comprise sufficientdevice capabilities for the HD service. The IMRG 112 may be operable totrack or monitor device activities such as the usage of carrier gradeservices of a carrier grade client device. The IMRG 112 may stop orresume delivery of the carrier grade services to the carrier gradeclient device. For example, in instances where the carrier grade clientdevice does not receive or need the carrier grade client devices withina certain time period, the IMRG 112 may stop delivery of the carriergrade services to the carrier grade client device during the certaintime period.

The IMRG 112 may be configured to forward and/or delegate, if requested,handling of the carrier grade services to one or more other clientdevices during the certain time period. The carrier grade services maybe resumed on the carrier grade client device whenever needed. Thecontent for the carrier grade services may be downloaded or stored bythe IMRG 112 into the local database 112 a. The stored content for thecarrier grade services may be provided or communicated to one or morenon-carrier grade client devices such as the client devices 132 d˜132 eif requested.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary generic IP multimediaresidential gateway that is operable to support service prioritizationand scheduling in an IP multimedia network, in accordance with anembodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown an IPmultimedia residential gateway (IMRG) 200 comprising a multi-standardmodem 202, a broadband modem 204, an IMRG processor 206, an IMRGdatabase 208 and a memory 210.

The multi-standard modem 202 may comprise suitable logic, circuitry,interfaces and/or code that are operable to communicate with a pluralityof client devices such as the client devices 132 a-132 e and 134 a-134 cutilizing a device-dependent interface such as, for example, Ethernet,Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, cordless, and/or Femtocell.

The broadband modem 204 may comprise suitable logic, circuitry,interfaces and/or code that are operable to transmit voice and/or datain adherence with one or more internet protocol (IP) broadband standard.The broadband modem 204 may be operable to transmit and/or receive voiceand/or data to and/or from the broadband IP networks 120 over broadbandconnections such as, for example, T1/E1 line, DSL, Cable, FTTx, PLC andWiMAX. The broadband modem 204 may dynamically configure one or morenetwork interfaces utilized within the broadband modem 204 towards tothe broadband IP networks 120. For example, in instances where thebroadband modem 204 is signaled to exchange information with the VoIPsoftswitch network 126, the broadband modem 204 may be configured toutilize FTTx as an access solution to the VoIP softswitch network 126.

The IMRG processor 206 may comprise suitable logic, circuitry,interfaces and/or code that are operable to perform a variety of signalprocessing tasks to maintain or manage communication between associatedclient devices and the broadband IP networks 120, and/or amongassociated client devices. The IMRG processor 206 may comprise a clientdevice interface 206 a, a client device adaptation unit 206 b, aninternal routing and control unit 206 c, a remote access unit 206 d, acore-network adaptation unit 206 e and a core-network interface 206 f.

The client device interface 206 a may comprise suitable logic,circuitry, interfaces and/or code that are operable to perform protocolconversion for client device access. The client device interface 206 amay comprise a device-dependent interface 226 and a common IP interface216. The device-dependent interface 226 may comprise suitable logic,circuitry, interfaces and/or code that are operable to access localclient devices over device-dependent connections such as WiFi and LTEconnections. The device-dependent interface 226 may be operable tosupport link layer protocols for specific PHY and MAC functionality of aparticular access technology. For example, in instances where the clientdevice interface 206 a is signaled to access a WiFi enabled clientdevice such as the client device 132 c, the client device interface 206a may exchange information with the client device 132 c utilizing WiFiair interface protocols for corresponding link layer communication. Thedevice-dependent interface 226 may support different IP transport and/orsignaling components utilized by client devices. The common IP interface216 may comprise suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces and/or code thatare operable to provide a common IP support to communicate contentbetween various client devices and the broadband IP networks 120. Thecommon IP interface 216 may comprise a transport unit 216 a and asignaling unit 216 b. The transport unit 216 a may comprise suitablelogic, circuitry, interfaces and/or code that are operable to provide asingle IP transport component such as RTP to support data communicationover IP. The signaling unit 216 b may comprise suitable logic,circuitry, interfaces and/or code that are operable to provide a singleIP signaling component such as SIP to support signaling communicationover IP. The client device interface 206 a may perform protocol mappingor translation between different IP transport and/or signalingcomponents utilized by client devices and the common IP-based interface216 running on the IMRG processor 206.

The client device adaptation unit 206 b may comprise suitable logic,circuitry, interfaces and/or code that are operable to adapt a widerange of client devices. In this regard, the client device adaptationunit 206 b may be operable to perform, for example, media or contenttranscoding, rate conversion, system timing adjustment and/or powercontrol based on corresponding client device capabilities to improveuser experiences.

The internal routing and control unit 206 c may comprise suitable logic,circuitry, interfaces and/or code that are operable to route anddistribute media, signaling and event packets among client devicescommunicatively coupled to the IMRG 112, for example. The internalrouting and control unit 206 c may collect or track client devicecapabilities and available actual service priority profiles forassociated client devices and network capabilities to build the IMRGdatabase 208.

In various exemplary embodiments of the invention, the internal routingand control unit 206 c may be operable to monitor activities ofcommunicatively coupled client devices such as the client devices 132a-132 e. The internal routing and control unit 206 c may be operable toperform real-time service scheduling by communicating with the servicemanagers such as the IP-based application servers 150. The internalrouting and control unit 206 c may communicate device capabilities andproposed service priority profiles for the communicatively clientdevices such as the client devices 132 a-132 e to the IP-basedapplication servers 150 for service scheduling. The internal routing andcontrol unit 206 c may receive available actual service priorityprofiles for the client devices 132 a-132 e from the IP-basedapplication servers 150. The internal routing and control unit 206 c mayutilize the received available actual service priority profiles todynamically configure or prioritize device capabilities of the clientdevices 132 a-132 e. The internal routing and control unit 206 c mayannounce services provided by the service managers according to thereceived available actual service priority profiles to notify the clientdevices 132 a-132 e. The internal routing and control unit 206 c may beoperable to allow the user of a client device such as the client device132 a to access a desired service even in instances when the clientdevice 132 a does not comprise sufficient device capabilities requiredfor the desired service. For example, the user of a WiFi enabled iPaddevice such as the client device 132 d may be signaled to receive, forexample, HD services, via one or more other client devices such as theclient devices 132 c comprising sufficient device capabilities for theHD services. The internal routing and control unit 206 c may be operableto manage the usage of available services such as carrier grade servicesamong the communicatively coupled client devices. The internal routingand control unit 206 c may stop or resume delivery of the carrier gradeservices to a corresponding carrier grade client device such as theclient device 132 c depending on the need of the carrier grade clientdevice. In instances where the carrier grade client device does not needthe carrier grade services within a certain time period, the internalrouting and control unit 206 c may provide or forward the carrier gradeservices to one or more non-carrier grade client devices such as theclient devices 132 e-132 e if requested. The internal routing andcontrol unit 206 c may also be operable to download content for thecarrier grade services and store the downloaded content into the IMRGdatabase 208. The internal routing and control unit 206 c may beoperable to push or communicate the stored content for the carrier gradeservices to one or more non-carrier grade client devices such as theclient device 132 d-132 e when needed.

The remote access unit 206 d may comprise suitable logic, circuitry,interfaces and/or code that are operable to provide necessaryfunctionality for the support of remote access by client devices thatare roaming outside of a local coverage of the IMRG 112. In this regard,the remote access unit 206 d may be operable to exchange informationwith remote client devices over broadband connections to the broadbandIP networks 120.

The core-network adaptation unit 206 e may comprise suitable logic,circuitry, interfaces and/or code that are operable to provideadaptation to different broadband IP networks for various clientdevices. In this regard, the core-network adaptation unit 206 e mayperform, for example, protocol translation and mapping between a commonIP protocol utilized by the IMRG 200 and protocols used by differentbroadband IP networks.

The core-network interface 206 f may comprise suitable logic, circuitry,interfaces and/or code that are operable to provide various broadbandconnections such as, for example, DSL, Cable, FTTx, PLC and WiMAX foraccess to the broadband IP networks 120.

The IMRG database 208 may comprise suitable logic, circuitry, interfacesand/or code that are operable to store and manage client deviceinformation and network information. In this regard, the IMRG database208 may comprise registration status information for associated clientdevices. The registration status for a client device pertaining to theIMRG 200 may be a local client device or a remote client device. TheIMRG database 208 may be operable to track or collect client devicecapabilities, available actual service priority profiles and networkcapabilities. The collected capability information may be utilized todynamically configure the IMRG 200 as well as client devices pertainingto the IMRG 200. The IMRG database 208 may comprise RAM, ROM, lowlatency nonvolatile memory such as flash memory and/or other suitableelectronic data storage capable of storing data and instructions

The memory 210 may comprise suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces and/orcode that are operable to store and manage data and/or other informationutilized by the IMRG processor 206. For example, the memory 210 may beutilized to store processed data or content generated by the IMRGprocessor 206. The memory 210 may be enabled to store executableinstructions to process, for example, protocol mapping and/or mediatranscoding. The memory 210 may comprise RAM, ROM, low latencynonvolatile memory such as flash memory and/or other suitable electronicdata storage capable of storing data and instructions.

In an exemplary operation, an IMRG such as the IMRG 200 may provideconnections for communicatively coupled client devices to the broadbandIP networks 120. The IMRG 200 may be operable to track or monitor devicecapabilities and service priority profiles of communicatively coupledclient devices. The internal routing and control unit 206 c may beoperable to perform real-time service scheduling together with one ormore service managers such as the IP-based application servers 150. Eachof the communicatively coupled client devices may propose a servicepriority profile based on corresponding device capabilities and userpreferences, for example. Device capabilities and proposed servicepriority profiles of the communicatively coupled client device such asthe client devices 132 a-132 e may be provided to the IP-basedapplication servers 150 for real-time service scheduling. The internalrouting and control unit 206 c may utilize available actual servicepriority profiles provided by the IP-based application servers 150 todynamically configure or prioritize device capabilities of the clientdevices 132 a-132 e. The user of a client device such as the clientdevice 132 a may be allowed to access a desired service via other clientdevices even when the client device 132 a does not comprise devicecapabilities required for the desired service.

The internal routing and control unit 206 c may be operable tocoordinate the usage of available services such as carrier gradeservices among the client devices 132-132 e. The internal routing andcontrol unit 206 c may stop or resume delivery of the carrier gradeservices to a corresponding carrier grade client device depending on theneed of the carrier grade client device. The internal routing andcontrol unit 206 c may be operable to provide the carrier grade servicesto one or more non-carrier grade client devices such as the clientdevices 132 d-132 e whenever needed. In addition, the internal routingand control unit 206 c may download content for the carrier gradeservices into the IMRG database 208 to be provided to non-carrier gradeclient devices such as the client devices 132 d-132 e when needed.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating exemplary steps that may beperformed to negotiate available actual service priority profilesbetween a generic IP multimedia residential gateway (IMRG) and theservice managers based on client device capabilities and proposedservice priorities, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.Referring to FIG. 3, the exemplary steps may start with step 302. Instep 302, an IMRG such as the IMRG 112 may be operable to establish orset up service priorities with one or more service managers forcommunicatively coupled client devices such as the client devices 132a-132 e. In step 304, the IMRG 112 may be operable to monitor activitiesof the communicatively coupled client devices. In step 306, each of thecommunicatively coupled client devices of the IMRG 112 may propose aservice priority profile based on its own device capabilities and userpreferences. The IMRG 112 may be operable to determine devicecapabilities and proposed service priority profiles of thecommunicatively coupled client devices. In step 308, the IMRG 112 may beoperable to communicate or transmit the determined device capabilitiesand proposed service priority profiles of the communicatively coupledclient devices to the service managers such as the IP-based applicationservers 150.

In step 310, the service managers may be operable to generate anavailable actual service priority profile for each of client devicescommunicatively coupled to the IMRG 112 based on corresponding devicecapabilities and proposed service priority profiles. In step 312, theservice managers may be operable to transmit or communicate thegenerated available actual service priority profiles to the IMRG 112. Instep 314, it may be determined whether the available actual servicepriority profiles provided by the service managers may be accepted. Ininstances where the IMRG 112 accepts the provided available actualservice priority profiles, then in step 316, the IMRG 112 may beoperable to acknowledge the service managers for the acceptance of theprovided available actual service priority profiles. In step 318, theservice managers may be operable to schedule services for the clientdevices 132 a-132 e according to the corresponding available actualservice priority profiles. The exemplary steps may return to step 304.

In step 314, in instances where the IMRG 112 does not accept theavailable actual service priority profiles provided by the servicemanagers, then in step 320, the IMRG 112 may be operable to communicatewith the communicatively coupled client devices such as the clientdevices 132 a-132 e to determine whether the client devices 132 a-132 emay update the proposed service priority profiles. In instances wherethe client devices 132 a-132 e decide to update the proposed servicepriority profiles, then the exemplary steps may return to step 308.

In step 320, in instances where the client devices 132 a-132 e determinenot to update the proposed service priority profiles, then the exemplarysteps may return to step 304.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating exemplary steps that may beperformed by a generic IP multimedia residential gateway (IMRG) todynamically configure device capabilities of communicatively coupledclient devices based on available actual service priority profilesprovided by the service managers, in accordance with an embodiment ofthe invention. Referring to FIG. 4, the exemplary steps start with step402. In step 402, an IMRG such as the IMRG 112 may be operable tomonitor activities of communicatively coupled client devices such as theclient devices 132 a-132 e. In step 404, the IMRG 112 may be operable toreceive available actual service priority profiles from the servicemanagers such as the IP-based application servers 150 for servicescheduling. In step 406, the IMRG 112 may be operable to configure orprioritize device capabilities of the communicatively coupled clientdevices based on the received available actual service priorityprofiles. In step 408, the IMRG 112 may be operable to communicate ortransmit the configured device capabilities of the communicativelycoupled client devices to the service managers for subsequent servicescheduling. The exemplary steps may return to step 404.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating exemplary steps that may beperformed by a generic IP multimedia residential gateway (IMRG) tonotify services available to communicatively coupled client devicesbased on available actual service priority profiles provided by theservice managers, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.Referring to FIG. 5, the exemplary steps start with step 502. In step502, an IMRG such as the IMRG 112 may be operable to monitor activitiesof communicatively coupled client devices such as the client devices 132a-132 e. In step 504, the IMRG 112 may be operable to receive availableactual service priority profiles from the service managers such as theIP-based application servers 150 for service scheduling. In step 506,the IMRG 112 may be operable to announce services provided by theservice managers based on the received available actual service priorityprofiles to notify the communicatively coupled client devices. In step508, one or more communicatively coupled client devices such as theclient device 132 a may be operable to send service requests to the IMRG112 for the announced services. In step 510, the IMRG 112 may beoperable to communicate or transmit content for requested servicesbetween the one or more communicatively coupled client devices and theservice managers based on corresponding device capabilities andavailable actual service priority profiles. The exemplary steps mayreturn to step 512.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating exemplary steps that may beperformed by a generic IP multimedia residential gateway (IMRG) to allowthe user of a client device to receive desired services via other clientdevices, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Referring toFIG. 6, the exemplary steps start with step 602. In step 602, an IMRGsuch as the IMRG 112 may be operable to monitor activities ofcommunicatively coupled client devices such as the client devices 132a-132 e. In step 604, the IMRG 112 may be operable to receive availableactual service priority profiles from the service managers such as theIP-based application servers 150 for service scheduling for thecommunicatively coupled client devices. In step 606, the IMRG 112 may beoperable to announce services provided by the service managers based onthe received available actual service priority profiles to notify thecommunicatively coupled client devices. In step 608, one or morecommunicatively coupled client devices such as the client device 132 amay be operable to send service requests to the IMRG 112 for theannounced services. In step 610, the IMRG 112 may be operable todetermine device capabilities required to support the requestedservices. In step 612, the IMRG 112 may determine whether the clientdevice 132 a may comprise sufficient device capabilities to support therequested services. In instances where the client device 132 a comprisessufficient device capabilities to support the requested services, thenin step 614, the IMRG 112 may be operable to communicate content for therequested services between the client device 132 a and the servicemanagers. The exemplary steps may return to step 604.

In step 612, in instances where the client device 132 a does notcomprise sufficient device capabilities to support the requestedservices, then in step 616, the IMRG 112 may be operable to select oridentify one or more client devices that may comprise sufficient devicecapabilities to support the requested services. In step 618, the IMRG112 may be operable to notify or inform the user of the client device132 to receive the requested services via the identified one or moreclient devices. In step 620, the client device 132 a may be operable toreceive the requested services via the identified one or more clientdevices. The exemplary steps may end in step 622.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating exemplary steps that may beperformed by a generic IP multimedia residential gateway (IMRG) toschedule and deliver carrier grade services to non-carrier grade clientdevices, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Referring toFIG. 7, the exemplary steps start with step 702. In step 702, an IMRGsuch as the IMRG 112 may be operable to monitor the usage of carriergrade services over carrier grade client devices such as the clientdevice 132 c. In step 704, the IMRG 112 may be operable to communicatecontent for the carrier grade services between the carrier grade clientdevice and the service managers such as the IP-based application servers150. In step 706, the carrier grade client device may be operable todetermine whether to continue the carrier-grad services. In instanceswhere the carrier grade client device determines to stop receiving thecarrier grade services, then in step 708, the carrier grade clientdevice may be configured to stop or suspend receiving content for thecarrier grade services.

In step 710, the IMRG 112 may be operable to stop or suspendcommunicating content for the carrier grade services between the carriergrade client device and the service managers. In step 712, the IMRG 112may be operable to announce that the carrier grade services areavailable. In step 714, one or more non-carrier grade client devicessuch as the client device 132 e may send service requests to the IMRG112 for the available carrier grade services. In step 716, the IMRG 112may be operable to communicate content for the carrier grade servicesbetween the non-carrier grade client device and the service managers.The exemplary steps may end in step 718.

In step 706, in instances where the carrier grade client device decidesto continue receiving the carrier grade services, then the exemplarysteps may return to step 704.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating exemplary steps that may beperformed by a generic IP multimedia residential gateway (IMRG) to pushstored content for carrier grade services to non-carrier grade clientdevices, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Referring toFIG. 8, the exemplary steps start with step 802. In step 802, an IMRGsuch as the IMRG 112 may be operable to monitor the usage of carriergrade services over carrier grade client devices such as the clientdevice 132 c. In step 804, the IMRG 112 may be operable to communicatecontent for the carrier grade services between the carrier grade clientdevice and the service managers such as the IP-based application servers150. In step 810, the IMRG 112 may be operable to download or storecontent for the carrier grade services into the IMRG database 208. Instep 812, the IMRG 112 may be operable to announce that the storedcontent for the carrier grade services are available. In step 814, oneor more non-carrier grade client devices such as the client devices 132a may be operable to send service requests to the IMRG 112 for thestored content for the carrier grade services. In step 816, the IMRG 112may be operable to communicate the stored content for the carrier gradeservices to the one or more non-carrier grade services. The exemplarysteps may end in step 818.

In various exemplary aspects of the method and system for prioritizingand scheduling services in an IP multimedia network, an IP multimediagateway such as the IMRG 112 may be operable to determine devicecapabilities and proposed service priority profiles of one or more of aplurality of client devices such as the client devices 132 a-132 e thatare communicatively coupled to the IMRG 112. The IMRG 112 may beoperable to transmit or communicate the determined device capabilitiesand proposed service priority profiles to one or more service managerssuch as the IP-based application servers 150 via the broadband IPnetworks 120 for service scheduling. The IP-based application servers150 may be operable to generate available actual service priorityprofiles for each of the client devices 132 a-132 e based on thecorresponding transmitted device capabilities and proposed servicepriority profiles from the IMRG 112.

The IMRG 112 may be operable to receive the available actual servicepriority profiles from the service managers such as the IP-basedapplication servers 150. The IMRG 112 may communicate content forservices, provided by the IP-based application servers 150, between theclient devices 132 a-132 e and the IP-based application servers 150. TheIMRG 112 may configure or prioritize the device capabilities of theclient devices 132 a-132 e based on the received available actualservice priority profiles. The configured device capabilities of theclient device 132 a-132 e may be transmitted back to the IP-basedapplication servers 150 to be utilized for subsequent servicescheduling. The IMRG 112 may announce services provided by the IP-basedapplication servers 150 based on the received available actual servicepriority profiles to notify client devices. The IMRG 112 may communicatecontent for the announced services between the client devices 132 a-132e, for example, and the IP-based application servers 150.

In instances where a client device such as the client device 132 d hasno sufficient device capabilities to support a desired service providedby the IP-based application servers 150, the IMRG 112 may be operable toidentify or select one or more communicatively coupled client devicesthat comprise sufficient device capabilities to support the desiredservice. The IMRG 112 may notify or signal the user of the client device132 a to receive the desired service via the selected one or morecommunicatively coupled client devices. Services provided by theIP-based application servers 150 may comprise carrier grade servicessubscribed by, for example, the client device 132 d. In instances wherea carrier grade client device such as the client device 132 a is notreceiving the carrier grade services within a certain time period, theIMRG 112 may be operable to stop communicating content for thecarrier-grad services between the carrier grade client devices and theIP-based application servers 150. The IMRG 112 may be operable tocommunicate the content for the carrier grade services between one ormore non-carrier grade client devices and the service managers withinthe certain time period. Content for the carrier grade services may bedownloaded by the IMRG 112 to be stored into the IMRG database 208. TheIMRG 112 may be operable to provide or communicate the stored contentfor the carrier grade services to one or more non-carrier grade clientdevices when needed.

Other embodiments of the invention may provide a non-transitory computerreadable medium and/or storage medium, and/or a non-transitory machinereadable medium and/or storage medium, having stored thereon, a machinecode and/or a computer program having at least one code sectionexecutable by a machine and/or a computer, thereby causing the machineand/or computer to perform the steps as described herein forprioritizing and scheduling services in an IP multimedia network.

Accordingly, the present invention may be realized in hardware,software, or a combination of hardware and software. The presentinvention may be realized in a centralized fashion in at least onecomputer system, or in a distributed fashion where different elementsare spread across several interconnected computer systems. Any kind ofcomputer system or other apparatus adapted for carrying out the methodsdescribed herein is suited. A typical combination of hardware andsoftware may be a general-purpose computer system with a computerprogram that, when being loaded and executed, controls the computersystem such that it carries out the methods described herein.

The present invention may also be embedded in a computer programproduct, which comprises all the features enabling the implementation ofthe methods described herein, and which when loaded in a computer systemis able to carry out these methods. Computer program in the presentcontext means any expression, in any language, code or notation, of aset of instructions intended to cause a system having an informationprocessing capability to perform a particular function either directlyor after either or both of the following: a) conversion to anotherlanguage, code or notation; b) reproduction in a different materialform.

While the present invention has been described with reference to certainembodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatvarious changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention. In addition, manymodifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material tothe teachings of the present invention without departing from its scope.Therefore, it is intended that the present invention not be limited tothe particular embodiment disclosed, but that the present invention willinclude all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

1. A method for communication, the method comprising: in an IPmultimedia gateway: determining capabilities and proposed servicepriority profiles of one or more of a plurality of communication devicesthat are communicatively coupled to said IP multimedia gateway;transmitting said determined capabilities and said determined proposedservice priority profiles to one or more service managers that areoperable to provide services to one or more of said plurality ofcommunication devices; receiving available actual service priorityprofiles from said one or more service managers, wherein said receivedavailable actual service priority profiles are generated by said one ormore service managers based on said transmitted capabilities and saidtransmitted proposed service priority profiles; and communicatingcontent for services provided by said one or more service managersbetween said one or more of said plurality of communication devices andsaid one or more service managers based on said received availableactual service priority profiles.
 2. The method according to claim 1,comprising configuring said determined capabilities of said one or moreof said plurality of communication devices based on said receivedavailable actual service priority profiles.
 3. The method according toclaim 2, comprising transmitting said configured capabilities of saidone or more of said plurality of communication devices to said one ormore service managers for subsequent service scheduling.
 4. The methodaccording to claim 1, comprising announcing to said plurality ofcommunication devices, services provided by said one or more servicemanagers based on said received available actual service priorityprofiles.
 5. The method according to claim 4, comprising communicatingcontent for said announced services between said one or more of saidplurality of communication devices and said one or more service managersbased on said determined capabilities and said received available actualservice profiles.
 6. The method according to claim 4, comprisingnotifying said one or more of said plurality of communication devices toreceive said announced services via at least one other of said one ormore of said plurality of communication devices.
 7. The method accordingto claim 1, wherein said services comprise carrier grade servicessubscribed by said one or more of said plurality of communicationdevices.
 8. The method according to claim 7, comprising stoppingcommunicating content for said subscribed carrier grade services betweensaid one or more of said plurality of communication devices with saidone or more service managers.
 9. The method according to claim 8,comprising communicating said content for said subscribed carrier gradeservices between at least one other of said one or more of saidplurality of communication devices with said one or more servicemanagers.
 10. The method according to claim 9, comprising: downloadingsaid content for said subscribed carrier grade services; andcommunicating said downloaded content for said subscribed carrier gradeservices between said at least one other of said one or more of saidplurality of communication devices with said one or more servicemanagers.
 11. A system for communication, the system comprising: one ormore processors and/or circuits for use an IP multimedia gateway, saidone or more processors and/or circuits being operable to: determinecapabilities and proposed service priority profiles of one or more of aplurality of communication devices that are communicatively coupled tosaid IP multimedia gateway; transmit said determined capabilities andsaid determined proposed service priority profiles to one or moreservice managers that are operable to provide services to one or more ofsaid plurality of communication devices; receive available actualservice priority profiles from said one or more service managers,wherein said received available actual service priority profiles aregenerated by said one or more service managers based on said transmittedcapabilities and said transmitted proposed service priority profiles;and communicate content for services provided by said one or moreservice managers between said one or more of said plurality ofcommunication devices and said one or more service managers based onsaid received available actual service priority profiles.
 12. The systemaccording to claim 11, wherein said one or more processors and/orcircuits are operable to configure said determined capabilities of saidone or more of said plurality of communication devices based on saidreceived available actual service priority profiles.
 13. The systemaccording to claim 12, wherein said one or more processors and/orcircuits are operable to transmit said configured capabilities of saidone or more of said plurality of communication devices to said one ormore service managers for subsequent service scheduling.
 14. The systemaccording to claim 11, wherein said one or more processors and/orcircuits are operable to announce services to said plurality ofcommunication devices, provided by said one or more service managersbased on said received available actual service priority profiles tonotify said plurality of communication devices.
 15. The system accordingto claim 14, wherein said one or more processors and/or circuits areoperable to communicate content for said announced services between saidone or more of said plurality of communication devices and said one ormore service managers based on said determined capabilities and saidreceived available actual service profiles.
 16. The system according toclaim 14, wherein said one or more processors and/or circuits areoperable to notify said one or more of said plurality of communicationdevices to receive said announced services via at least one other ofsaid one or more of said plurality of communication devices.
 17. Thesystem according to claim 11, wherein said services comprise carriergrade services subscribed by said one or more of said plurality ofcommunication devices.
 18. The system according to claim 17, whereinsaid one or more processors and/or circuits are operable to stopcommunicating content for said subscribed carrier grade services betweensaid one or more of said plurality of communication devices with saidone or more service managers.
 19. The system according to claim 18,wherein said one or more processors and/or circuits are operable tocommunicate said content for said subscribed carrier grade servicesbetween at least one other of said one or more of said plurality ofcommunication devices with said one or more service managers.
 20. Thesystem according to claim 19, wherein said one or more processors and/orcircuits are operable to download said content for said subscribedcarrier grade services; and communicate said downloaded content for saidsubscribed carrier grade services between said at least one other ofsaid one or more of said plurality of communication devices with saidone or more service managers.